초록 ▼

A vessel (2) comprises a first stabilizer assembly (14) and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising at least one submergible at least partially hollow body; and suspending means (16) for suspending the or each body from the vessel, the first and second stabilizer assemblies

A vessel (2) comprises a first stabilizer assembly (14) and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising at least one submergible at least partially hollow body; and suspending means (16) for suspending the or each body from the vessel, the first and second stabilizer assemblies being suspended from substantially opposite sides of the vessel. Fins (22) are provided on the stabilizer assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In combination, a vessel, a first stabilizer assembly and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising: at least a first submergible at least partially hollow body comprising at least one closed ballast tank of adjustable ballast;suspending means for suspending the or each bo

1. In combination, a vessel, a first stabilizer assembly and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising: at least a first submergible at least partially hollow body comprising at least one closed ballast tank of adjustable ballast;suspending means for suspending the or each body below the vessel such that the or each first body is fully submerged below the water line of the vessel and above the seabed and is movable vertically relative to the seabed,at least one saddle attached to a hull of the vessel for supporting the suspending means and for transferring loads from the suspending means to the vessel, andthe first and second stabilizer assemblies being suspended from substantially opposite respective sides of the vessel, wherein a top of the suspending means of the first stabilizer assembly is connected to a top of the suspending means of the second stabilizer assembly by a connection which is structurally separate from the vessel. 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first stabilizer assembly further comprises: a second submergible at least partially hollow body suspended from the first body. 3. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a third stabilizer assembly, the third stabilizer assembly comprising: at least a first submergible at least partially hollow body: andsuspending means extendable below the water line for suspending the or each first body of the third stabilizer assembly from the vessel. 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the third stabilizer assembly comprises: a second submergible hollow body suspended from the first body of the third stabilizer assembly. 5. The combination according to claim 3 further comprising a fourth stabilizer assembly, the fourth stabilizer assembly comprising: at least a first submergible at least partially hollow body; andsuspending means extendable below the water line for suspending the or each first body of the fourth stabilizer assembly from the vessel. 6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the first stabilizer assembly is suspended near the bow of the vessel on one side, the second stabilizer assembly is suspended near the bow of the vessel on the other side, the third stabilizer assembly is suspended near the stern of the vessel on said one side and the fourth stabilizer assembly is suspended near the stern of the vessel on the other side. 7. The combination according claim 1 wherein the suspending means is capable of bearing high tension loads. 8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the suspending means is capable of bearing tension loads of more than one hundred times the loads it is capable of bearing in compression. 9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the suspending means comprises elongate flexible members. 10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein the elongate flexible members are chains. 11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each body is of elongate shape and has a cross-sectional area greater than 4 m2. 12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each body comprises one or more closed or closable spaces having a combined volume of more than 50 m3. 13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the or each ballast tank is separately ballastable. 14. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each stabilizer assembly further comprises at least one fin projecting from the or each first body. 15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the at least one fin is pivotable relative to the or each first body to restrict movement of the body upwardly through water more than downwardly. 16. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each first body is substantially prism shaped. 17. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each first body has a circular cross section. 18. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each first body has a rectangular cross section. 19. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each first body has a square cross section. 20. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each first body has a triangular cross section. 21. The combination according to claim 1 wherein one or both ends of each first body is substantially conical. 22. The combination according to claim 1, in which only vertical loads are arranged to be transferred from the suspending means to the vessel. 23. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vessel includes a deck, the suspending means of the first stabilizing assembly being connected to the suspending means of the second stabilizer assembly proximate a center of the deck. 24. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the load transfer structure is arranged to transmit only vertical loads from the suspending means to the vessel structure. 25. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each stabiliser assembly is arranged to apply via the suspending means as a downwardly directed force on the side of the vessel from which it is suspended when that side of the vessel moves upwards. 26. An apparatus for reducing vessel motion comprising a first stabilizer assembly and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising: at least one submergible at least partially hollow body including at least one closed ballast tank of adjustable ballast; andsuspending means for suspending the or each body such that the or each body is fully submerged below the water line of the vessel and above the seabed and is movable vertically relative to the seabed,the first and second stabilizer assemblies being suitable for locating at substantially opposite portions of the vessel, wherein a top of the suspending means of the first stabilizer assembly is connected to a top of the suspending means of the second stabilizer assembly, the suspending means supported by at least one saddle for attaching to a hull of the vessel for supporting the suspending means and transferring loads from the suspending means to the vessel. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body is of elongate shape and has a cross-sectional area greater than 4 m2. 28. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body comprises one or more closed or closable spaces having a combined volume of more than 50 m3. 29. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the or each ballast tank is separately ballastable. 30. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein each stabilizer assembly further comprises at least one fin projecting from the or each body. 31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the at least one fin is pivotable relative to the or each body to restrict movement of the body through water in one direction more than in another direction. 32. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein each body is substantially prism shaped. 33. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body has a circular cross section. 34. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body has a rectangular cross section. 35. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body has a square cross section. 36. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein each body has a triangular cross section. 37. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein one or both ends of each body is substantially conical. 38. A vessel in combination with a stabilizing apparatus according to claims 28. 39. A method for reducing motion of a water-borne vessel comprising: suspending at least two at least partially hollow bodies each comprising at least one closed ballast tank below the water line of the vessel and above the seabed from substantially opposite sides of the vessel by respective first and second suspending means, wherein the bodies are vertically movable relative to the seabed, and further including the steps of connecting the first and second suspending means to each other in association with saddles attached to a hull of the vessel for providing support to the suspending means and transferring loads from the suspending means to the vessel. 40. In combination, a vessel, a first stabilizer assembly and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising: at least one submergible at least partially hollow body comprising at least one closed space of adjustable ballast;saddles which increase the width of the vessel; andelongate flexible suspending means extendable beneath a water line of the vessel such that the or each body is fully submerged below the water line and is vertically movable relative to the seabed, the elongate flexible suspending means being capable of bearing tension loads of more than one hundred times the loads it is capable of bearing in compression,each stabilizer assembly being arranged to apply via its suspending means a downwardly directed force on a side of the vessel from which it is suspended when the side of the vessel moves upwards,the first and second stabilizer assemblies being suspended from substantially opposite sides of the vessel in association with the saddles, wherein the saddles are arranged to transfer the downwardly directed forces from the elongate flexible suspending means to the vessel. 41. In combination, a vessel, a first stabilizer assembly and a second stabilizer assembly, each stabilizer assembly comprising: at least one submergible at least partially hollow body with a volume of more than 50 m3, the hollow body comprising at least one closed ballast tank of adjustable ballast; andsuspending means extendable below a water line of the vessel for suspending the or each body from the vessel such that the or each body is fully submerged below the water line and is vertically movable relative to the seabed, the suspending means being capable of bearing tension loads of more than one hundred times the loads it is capable of bearing in compression,the first and second stabilizer assemblies being suspended from substantially opposite sides of the vessel,the vessel further comprising one or more saddles for attaching to a hull of the vessel such that a width of the vessel is increased, the saddles arranged to support the suspending means such that the saddles transfer loads from the suspending means to the hull. 42. The combination as claimed in claim 41, wherein each body is substantially prism shaped. 43. The combination as claimed in claim 41, wherein each body has a circular cross section.